Are you interested in the cattle business and ready to grow your herd? Maybe you have a hobby farm or homestead and want to extend your animal husbandry skills by raising cows. Either way, it involves impregnating a cow and having a calf.
A cow’s gestation period is around the same as a human’s, and while we are all familiar with how to raise a baby, a calf is different. Not sure where to start? Here are some practical tips for calf care after birth.
The Pregnant Cow
Making babies is how the world populates; pregnant cows are how a farm thrives. When your cow is closing in on giving birth, it’s time to get ready. You want the best chance of success with the birth itself and survival immediately afterwards, so you should be present for the birth itself. There may be complications, and while not all births are successful, you assist during the event, including removing the calf from the cow.
First Hour After the Birth
This is the golden hour and is a crucial period in a new calf’s life. Once the calf is out, make sure the mamma has access to her calf, as she will want to lick it clean. This helps with circulation and prepares the calf to stand and walk. Make sure the nostrils and mouth are clear of mucus, and if the calf is not breathing, artificial respiration should be done by compressing and relaxing the chest wall.
Calf resuscitation may be necessary and also includes:
- Pouring cold water on the calf’s head
- Sitting the calf upright on their chest
- Suspending the calf upside down for a minute or less
- Dry them off, and if they are shivering and keep them warm with an infrared lamp
- Rubbing them down to initiate breathing
Next, you want to cut the naval cord with a thread about 2 inches from the base and use a 7% iodine solution to dip the remaining cord in so there is no infection. This is to be repeated in 12 hours.
Assess the Calf
It is important to check out the calf’s vitality using these indicators:
- Muscle tone
- Responsiveness to external stimuli
- Time taken for the calf to raise its head
- Time taken for the calf to stand
The calf should attempt to stand within 20 minutes and sit up with its legs tucked under the body (sternal recumbency). Within the hour, the calf should be standing and ready to nurse, as the calf must get colostrum immediately. This is thick milk from the mother that contains nutrients and antibodies, and the new calf needs around 2 litres within the first few hours.
You may also want to “snatch” the calf and bring it to a calf pen with fresh straw. You can feed them the correct amount of colostrum through a feeding or stomach tubing bottle.
Momma Cow
The new mother, or Dam, has been through a lot and will need clean, cool water and extra feed for the next 12 hours as she passes the placenta. She will usually eat this as it is full of nutrients and hormones for nourishment. Let the calf nurse consider giving them another round of colostrum if you think they are not getting enough from the Dam.
Calf Pens
Once the calf is up and walking and has fed, you should separate them from the mother. This may seem cruel, but it is standard practice and helps with weaning anxiety as the calf grows. It is also a better way to break any disease cycle by keeping them in their pen.
Calf pens are independent housing for the calf that they will be raised in for up to 10 weeks. Getting a high-quality pen allows for ease of feeding along with cleaning as they grow and mature. Indoor calf pens can be made of plastic or steel and should have great airflow with the ability to group with other pens to allow a social environment for the calves.
Many calf pens are portable and can be broken down and stacked away until needed. They can also be versatile for conversion into group penning.
During this separation time, you may:
- Tattoo your calf for identification
- Deworm
- Treat the udders
- Dehorn
- Castrate the bull calfs
Once they are ready to join the herd, you should get the vet in for vaccination against anthrax and, later, B.Q.
This is how to care for your calf after birth. You aim to provide a clean environment for them to grow and lots of food and water so they are well-fed. They also need to socialize with other calves, so use individual calf pens and transition them to group pens with lots of room. Soon they will join their herd and be active with their mothers and the rest of the cows. This is the natural cycle of bovine life, and you are there to assist so your herd is healthy and happy.